…INEC boss hands over to Agbamuche-Mbu after a decade of digital reforms
…President Tinubu bestows national honour on outgoing INEC Chairman
…RECs, staff, and stakeholders hail Yakubu’s legacy of innovation and integrity
ABUJA, Nigeria – After a decade marked by controversy, innovation, resilience, and reforms that reshaped Nigeria’s electoral landscape, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has stepped down from office, handing over to National Commissioner, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve as Acting Chairman pending the appointment of a substantive head by the President.
In a symbolic recognition of his contributions to deepening democracy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred on Prof. Yakubu a national honour for his “exceptional service to the Nigerian state and unrelenting commitment to electoral integrity.” The award, presented shortly before the official handover, crowns Yakubu’s decade-long stewardship, which saw Nigeria transition into a new era of digitally anchored elections.
Yakubu’s time at the helm, however, was fraught with controversy, as political analysts, observers and many Nigerians questioned his handling of various elections (and their outcomes), across federal, state and local council levels. Many of the results of these different elections, had to be settled in court, as there were widespread reported cases of anomalies, voter intimidation/apathy, violence, etc., which pointed to alleged INEC’s complicity, negligence or outright incompetence in handling many of the polls.
His announcement came unexpectedly on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, during the Commission’s Third Regular Quarterly Consultative Meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held at the INEC headquarters in Abuja. The session, which began as a routine review of electoral preparations, turned into an emotional farewell as Yakubu reflected on his ten-year journey at the helm of Nigeria’s electoral umpire.
“Knowing the enormity of the challenges ahead, having been privileged to serve the Commission for ten years with only a few more weeks to serve, I have taken a decision and conveyed same as provided by Section 306 (1) and (2) of the Constitution,” Prof. Yakubu told a stunned audience of Commissioners and staff.
He explained that his decision was made after due consultations with National Commissioners, naming Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu as the Acting Chairperson. “This will afford the appointing authorities adequate time to appoint a new Chairman and enable the new leadership to settle quickly into the task of conducting Africa’s most demographically and logistically complex elections,” he said.
The outgoing INEC Chairman used the occasion to give a comprehensive account of his decade-long stewardship, highlighting major reforms, ongoing projects, and the Commission’s readiness for the 2027 general elections.
He noted that the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), which began seven weeks ago, had recorded 6,856,979 online pre-registrations and 1,216,048 completed in-person registrations. The exercise, he said, would continue until August 2026, in line with legal provisions.
“Our commitment to transparency remains unshaken. We will continue to publish weekly figures detailing registration data by state, gender, occupation, and disability,” he stated.
On forthcoming polls, Yakubu reaffirmed that the Anambra governorship election would hold next month, followed by the FCT Area Council elections in February 2026, the Ekiti governorship election in June, and the Osun governorship election in August 2026.
Looking back at a decade of institutional transformation, Yakubu listed a series of groundbreaking innovations introduced under his leadership — from biometric voter registration and electronic result management to digital accreditation of observers, political parties, and media representatives. “We have replaced many of our manual processes with digital platforms and applications,” he said, noting that INEC’s Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC) has become a model for real-time election oversight.
He attributed many of these successes to the dedication of staff and support from local and international partners. “Together, we innovated and managed the Commission’s enormous responsibilities, sometimes on the verge of breaking down,” Yakubu remarked, praising the synergy among Commissioners, RECs, and development partners.
Prof. Yakubu, who first assumed office in 2015, thanked the National Assembly, security agencies, political parties, civil society, the media, and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for their collaboration over the years. “Young Nigerians serving in the NYSC are among the most educated, patriotic, and knowledgeable election officials I worked with,” he said.
He further announced the launch of two publications: Election Management in Nigeria, 2015–2025 and Innovations in Electoral Technology, 2015–2025, documenting the Commission’s evolution and digital strides during his tenure. Both books, he said, have been made available to the public on INEC’s website.
In an emotional acceptance speech, Acting Chairman, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, expressed gratitude to God and the outgoing Chairman for his visionary leadership and the opportunity to serve. “We acknowledge the significant contributions and achievements made by Professor Mahmood Yakubu during his tenure, in particular his hard work and dedication in serving our country meritoriously,” she said.
She pledged to sustain the reforms and uphold the integrity of the Commission. “We will continue from where you stopped. I pledge to work with utmost professionalism, dedication, and unity with all staff and stakeholders to ensure the continued growth of the Commission,” Agbamuche-Mbu added.
Speaking on behalf of Resident Electoral Commissioners, Benue REC, Prof. Sam Egwu, described Yakubu’s exit as “the civilian equivalent of a real coup,” a testament to his humility and surprise announcement. “You are one of the most brilliant Nigerians. Even in the remotest part of the country, you know all the electoral details this is unprecedented,” Egwu said, lauding Yakubu’s depth of knowledge and humour.
He added, “As you leave this Commission, we hope you move to greater endeavours. May Nigeria be a better country than it used to be.”
As the curtains fall on a decade of reform-minded leadership at INEC, Prof. Yakubu’s legacy stands defined by technology-driven transparency, institutional independence, and the steady evolution of Nigeria’s democratic process.
The coming months will test how well the Commission sustains that legacy under Agbamuche-Mbu’s interim leadership as the nation marches toward another defining general election in 2027.
